Apparatus for distributing concrete



Jan. 8, 1924.

J7 TRIMBLE APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CONCRETE Filed March 17 .l

1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INN mw $1 S1 J INN JJ NN: AUS f xN 12| Nv: A NN w. JWN KNV @1 Jan Jann 8,

J. TRIMBLE APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CONRETE Filed March 17. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 patented `lan. S, i924.

UNITED S'lAPilES *rattan saveur ortica.

JOHN TRIMBLE, 0F PHLADELPI-IA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed Merch 17, 1922.

To ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, Jol-1N Tam/mm3, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and citate of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Distributing Concrete, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to laying concrete and more particularly to methods and apparatus for distributing concrete when laying reinforced concrete flooring and columns.

In the usual reinforced concrete buildings distribution is above temporary floors supported from below by suitable scaffolding, concrete being distributed from a stationary chute or hopper on each floor, the concrete being supplied to the floor by an elevator; and columns have to be poured before the lflooring and girders principally because of the shrinkage of the concrete in hardening.

Hitherto usual practice is to distribute concrete from the chute or hopper in buggies pushed by hand along relatively wide temporary boardwalk tracks above the temporary form7 it being necessary to have these temporary boardwalk tracks to bridge beams and girders, even when distributing to the columns.

rlhese temporary tracks are too wide to permit laying the reinforcing metal under them while in place, and moreover they and the form become greatly fouled by reason of the concrete spilling upon them. The boardwalks are moved away after` the columns have been poured, to permit placing the reinforcing material, and are subsequently put back so that the buggies can be used again to distribute concrete over the flooring.

rhe main object of my invention is to provide a process for lessening the labor and cost, and for increasing` the ease and rapidity of distribution of concrete in structural work.

A further main purpose is to provide apparatus for performing this process.

A further purpose is to provide a movable overhead track and trolley for the distribution of concrete from the elevator to individual floors of buildings7 the range of distribution being changed by moving the track.

A further purpose is to provide an overhead track for distribution of the concrete and a walk thereunder that while readily Serial No. 544,598.

movable is suii'iciently out of the way as not to require moving after the columns have been poured in order to place the reinforcing material.

A further purpose is to provide wider range of distribution for a single position of the track by reason of the greater height at which the concrete is delivered, this greater height permitting the use of small lateral chutes from the distribution bucket. For pouring columns I lower the bucket.

A further purpose is to provide .under an overhead distribution tracka walk narrow enough to permit reinforcing metal to be put in place under it and with a concrete bucket adapted for distribution at the side.

A further'purpose is to provide spaced vertical supports for the overhead distribution track with vertically adjustable means for carrying the walk beneath the track.

A further purpose is to provide the overhead track with spaced supports having legs on each side of the track with apertured flanges at their ends for nailing to the floor and with vertically spaced apertures for ad'- justably supporting the track.

A further purpose is to provide an improved trolley to run on the overhead track.

A further purpose is to provide an im-.

proved one man bucket to be carried by the trolley, movable about anv aXis to discharge in any direction.

A further purpose is to provide a hanging bucket with a pivotal support near and somewhat above its center ofgravity so as to be readilyv tipped by the operator, with a vsloping bottom to a sloping delivery spout for easy delivery, with a spout door springpressed toward closure'against the 'end of an operating rod, and with a door operating rod that extends to a handle at the rear of the bucket.

A further purpose is to provide a preferably endless overhead track of structural shapes tied together by the spaced upright supports.

A further purpose is to provide upright supports adapted to slightfoot adjustment Vto miss girders and beams.

A further purpose is to provide a trolley adapted to easy, inexpensive manufacture from standard light structural flats, channels and angles.

A further purpose is to have the operating rod adjustably interlock with a fixed part of the bucket to lock the door closed or open to any desired extent.

Further purposes Will appear in the specification and in the claims.

I have preferred to illustrate my invention by a single form only, selecting a form Which is practical, eflicient, and inexpensive and which at the same time Well illustrates the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a top plan vieuT of my invention, the spaced upright supports `on one side being pa'rt'ly broken.

Figure 2 is an enlarged end elevation through line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 2.

Figure t is a partly broken 'side elevation of the track and trolley.

v Figure 5 is a section through line 5 5 of Figure el.

Figure 6 is a lbroken detail of a link for hanging the bucket at loiv elevation.

Figures 7 and 8 are top plan views of details.

ln the "drawings like numbers refer to like parts in `all figures.y

Referring to the drawings and describing in illustration and not in limitation:-

The stationary hopper receives concrete from the skip-bucket id supplies the concrete to buckets 16 for distribution along a movable overhead track l? over the temporary floor 18.

The floor 18 is a Wooden form for the concrete floor and it will be channelled for door beams Aand gir-ders and have Wells for the supporting` columns. These channels and'wells, as also supporting scaffolding are not shovvn, being no part of the invention.

lit is :the intention to utilize `one setting of the apparatus with such shifting of the overhead support as circumstances require for all of the concrete Work Within its reach includingthe columns, yginders and floor Work and my construction 'is organized with this in vieiv.V Furthermore l do not only take the Weight ofthe concrete away from the b'oard-vfalk for the operator, but make it possible for one man to pusl'i the bucket to position. to turn it for discharge yif desired and A`to discharge it in any direction.

rllhe bucket 1G is carried by means of a swivel hook 19 from a trolley 20 rolling upon lthe track. vThe loaded bucket is 'pushed by an operator Walking'v along a Walk 21 beneath vthe track to points of 'distribution and the empty bucket to the reservoir over the sa'me path or is pushed around the closed circuit to the reservoir according to circumstances.

The movable overhead track is supported by spaced vertical Vframe uprights 22, )refers ably of light angle iron, and 'themtrack is preferably of l-beams 23. The trolley rolls on the upper side of the lower flanges and the beams themselves are supported and tied together at their ends by bolting adjoining ends of successive beams to the same transverse member 2e of the frame uprights, bolts joining the ends of the upper flanges of successive beams of the track to the fiat 24S of the horizontal transverse member 24.

rlhe Walk 21, which is sufficiently narrow as not to interfere While in place with the laying yof reinforcing metal, is carried on transverse pieces 2T across the legs 28 of the frame supports. The proper height for these transverse pieces Will .in practice vary according 'to particular needs and circumstances and l have made provision for easy adjust-ment of the height of these transverse supports for the avalk. Bolts 29 through holes in the ends of the transverse pieces and through any corresponding holes 31 of vertically spaced holes in the legs fasten the transverse pieces atany desired height.

The legs 28 are shown with an upv-.fard taper and the holes 8O should have sufficient length to permit registry With holes 31 at either top or bottom. It is of course vevident that this necessity for registry might be avoided by having the bolts 29 hook bolts under the pieces 27 hook-clamping these pieces to the legs.

l preferably provide the frame 22 with corner braces 30 and make the position of these braces adjustabl by providing a suit able series of holes 31 in the frame members. ln practice there will be occasional need for displacing one of the legs somewhat to avoid a beam or girder and this distortion is made more easy by having adjustable the position of the brace 30.

'lhe legs are flanged at the floor and when in place are nailed to the fioor through holes in these flanges, zit-32 of Figures 1 and 2.

lt is desirable to carry the bucket at times high and at vtimes low, as loiv when delivering to columns and high Vwhen delivering to lateral auxiliary chutes for Wide distribution from the track; to meet this need for different heights of bucket l provide auxiliary links 33 insertion below the swivel hook 19, thus obtaining any desirable height of bucket. Y i' The improved bucket 16 is carried by a link member 34 at pivot projections Vfrom opposite sides of the bucket. The bucket has a sloping bottom 36 for easy delivery of the concrete, the bottom sloping to a sloping delivery spout 37 having a delivery door 3S hinged at its top 'at and spring-pressed to closure by means of lateral springs 40.

The opening of the door is controlled by rod 41 and its closure by the springs 40.

The door has a downwardly projecting portion L12 engaged by the end of the rod 41 which is slidably supported by guides 43 and 411 beneath 'the bottom'of 'the bucket.

This rod extends from the projecting` portion 4t2 of the delivery door along the botluc lll)

tom of the bucket to the rear, and has at the rear a handle 45.

The door is opened by pushing forward the handle 45, the end of the rod 41 pushing out the projecting portion of the door against the action of the closing springs.l

The rod is also provided with notches 46 adapted to adjustably lock Within a fixture on the guide 44 to maintain the door open to a position corresponding to that of the rod.

The bucket is preferably provided with handles 49 at the rear for added convenience in pulling, and turning, and tipping the bucket.

The pivots 37 are near and above the center of gravity of the bucket both when loaded and when empty and are in line approximately perpendiculai1 to a vertical plane through the middle of the spout and the middle of the bucket.

The pivots 37 are near the center of gravity to make tipping easy and are above the center of gravity to avoid top heaviness, and are perpendicular to the vertical plane through the middle of the bucket and middle of the spout in order to adapt the bucket to pivotal tipping toward the spout.

The trolley 18 is conveniently and inexpensively made of channels, flats and angles.

There are twowheels 47 on each side of the I-beam rolling upon the top of the lower flanges, the wheels on each side being pivotally supported upon pivots 48 housed within inverted' U housings made by bolting or riveting together the angle 49 and the channel 50, the pairs of housings being connected'by means of a flat 51 which also carries the swivel hook 19.

In using my invention in concreting a iioor, the overhead track, put up a section at a time, is first located with a range to distribute concrete to the columns, which are always poured first because of shrinkage of the concrete in hardening. Buckets are loaded at the reservoir and pushed by operators walking on the relatively narrow lwalk beneath the track and delivered into the column forms.

rThe columns must have time to shrink and harden before the floor concrete is poured and this period is used to place reinforcing metal over the floor.

During this operation the relatively narrow walk beneath the track is so litle in the way as not to interfere and is not removed, a material advantage over present practice in which the wider and heavier walks requisite for the side-wheel buggies must be removed after the columns have been poured and put back for concreting the iioor after' over the flooring, concrete is distributed from the skip buckets over the floor for the range of the track, the range perhaps now including the whole floor without changing the position of the track and perhaps including only a part of the floor in which case the track is moved as needed.

Lateral chutes may be used when needed to increase the range of lateral delivery from the track and the greater elevation of my bucket as compared to the usual buggy permits the use of longer lateral chutes and consequent wider lateral delivery from the track than is possible with the usual buggy I far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In apparatus for distributing concrete, a plurality of supports each comprising spaced legs united at the top to give a free space between the legs, a track supported thereby, a carrier adapted to travel along the length of the track, a walk for the operator beneath the track parallel with it and between the legs, permitting the operator to shove the carrier and a mount for the walk transverse to the legs and supported from them.

2. In apparatus for distributing concrete, a plurality of supports each comprising spaced legs united at the top, a track supported thereby, a carrier adapted to travel along the length of the track, a walk for the operator beneath the track and parallel with it and between the legs and mounts for the walk from the legs of the support adjustable in height upon said legs.

3. In apparatus for distributing concrete, a plurality of supports each comprising spaced legs united at the top, a track supported thereby, a carrier adapted to travel along the length of the track, operating means for discharging the contents of said carrier accessible from the rear and a walk for the operator supported by the legs and extending parallel to the track and between the legs, so that the operator can shove the carrier. Y

4. In apparatus for distributing concrete, a plurality of supports each comprising spaced legs connected at the top, a rail supported thereby, a carrier depending from the rai-l and movable tlierealong between the legs, a Walk for the operator beneath the rail, a plfuality ci transverse bars extending each troni one lag to the other ot' a support and upon which the `Walk is' mounted and adjustable Yeonneftions between the legs of each support and the bars.

5. ln apparatus for distributing concrete, a plurality ot' supports each comprising spaced legs connected at the top, a rail snppor-ted thereby, a carrier depending troni the rail and inovable therealong between the legs, a wall: tor the operator beneath the rail, a plurality of transverse bars e2;- tending each troni one leg to the other et a support and upon which the .valk is inounted and adjustable connections fastening the,

bars te the respective legs ot the supports.

e. ln apparatus for distributing concrete, a plurality et' supports each comprising spaced `flanged legs 'united at the top, the Widths of the Aflanges ot opposite legs lying in parallel planes, in combination with a walk between 'the legs connected With the flanges adjustably as to height and a railand-bucket conveyor above the Walk.

7. ln apparatus 'tor distributing concrete, a movable overhead track et I-beains, spaced transverse supports uniting the ends-ot successive -bealns, legs on each side ot the track tor the transverse supports, apertnred flanges on the legs near their bottoni ends, and vertially adjustable transverse pieces tor carrying a Walk beneath the track earried by the legs.

8. ln ztpparatus tor distributing concrete, a movable overhead track, spaced transverse angle-iron supports unitinothe ends et' suecessi ve portions of' the track, angle-iron legs on each side et the track for the supports, cross braces across the corners between the supports and legs, vertically adjustable transverse pieces uniting the legs and Wal-k beneath the track carried by the transverse pieces.

9. In apparatus for distributing concrete, a movable overhead track, a plurality ot upright supports 'for the track, having sp ced legs each, on opposite sides of the track, vertically adjustable nieinbers trans verse vto the track supported by the legs, and a Walk longitudinal et the track resting on the tran verse members.

l0. ln apparatus tor distributing eenerete, a niovable overhead endless track, `supports therefor having spaced legs and a free Way 'pa-frinitting Walking vbetween the legs, a trolley rolling on the track and a Walk anounted` between the legs of the supports and below the trol-ley, so that the operator can man-ifiulate the trolley.

ll. ln, apparatus for distributingconcrete, a movable overheadv track, side supports therefor on opposite sides holding 'the track above the 'feet ot the supports andotlering a tree way for Walking `beneath the track, a trolley rolling on kthe track, a 4container ter the concrete depending l'roni the ktrolley and a Walk inounted beneath the above the level ot ithe lreet of the support-s so that an operator can walk thereon to shove the container.

vJOHN TRIMBLE.

track and 

